Powerful storm lashes NH with strong winds

Tuesday

Oct 30, 2012 at 3:30 AM

Storm lashes NH with powerful wind, leaves tens of thousands in the dark

HAMPTON, N.H. (AP) — The massive late-October tempest dubbed Frankenstorm put presidential politicking on hold in this battleground state while utility crews began the arduous process of restoring electricity to tens of thousands of homes and businesses left in the dark.

With winds topping 70 mph offshore, the massive storm caused a tree to fall on a vehicle in Windham, left about 196,000 homes and businesses in the dark, and swept away plans by the presidential campaigns to hold events in New Hampshire.

The National Weather Service recorded gusts Monday evening of 60 mph in Portsmouth, 62 mph in Londonderry and 76 mph at the Isle of Shoals, 6 miles off the coast. Forecasters said rainfall could reach 4 inches.

In Windham, a powerful gust caused a tree to fall on a vehicle Monday evening, leaving a man critically injured, said Katya Brennan, a spokeswoman for the state Emergency Operation Center. Windham police were unable to provide details.

Gov. John Lynch declared a state of emergency, urging motorists to stay off roads and sending nonessential state workers home at 3 p.m.

"Water in the roadways, flying debris and downed power lines are all possible because of the severity of this storm, which is why we are urging people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary," Lynch said.

Sandy, no longer a hurricane, remained dangerous after slamming ashore in New Jersey and combining with two other weather systems.

People were urged to stay away from the dangerous surf, but some were drawn to the ocean's fury. Dimitri Garbuzov, a new surfer, was lured to Hampton Beach by the images he saw on a "surf cam."

"I knew the waves were going to be impressive," the 30-year-old said. "Plus, I've never seen what the ocean looks like in a storm."

Though the beach was closed, dozens of onlookers gathered on the sidewalks, some cheering as if they were on an amusement park ride each time a wave crashed over the seawall.

Elaine St. Pierre, 69, of Goffstown, said she initially thought her husband was crazy to suggest driving to Hampton, but called it "a once in a lifetime thing."

"I'm glad we came, but I'll be glad to get home," she said as she got sprayed by the foamy seawater.

Some marshy areas and roads near the beach were flooded. In nearby Portsmouth, the library, City Hall and other buildings closed at 4 p.m., and Halloween trick-or-treating, originally planned for Tuesday, was postponed until Saturday. The ports of Portsmouth and Portland, Maine, took the unusual steps of closing to commercial traffic at 5 p.m., the Coast Guard said.

Politicians surrendered to the storm. Vice President Joe Biden canceled a rally planned for Monday in Keene, and Republican Mitt Romney's wife, Ann Romney, called off her bus tour through the state. Both campaigns urged supporters to donate money, goods or supplies for the relief effort.

Romney campaign volunteer Cheryl Poussard, of Hampstead, was looking forward to seeing Mrs. Romney. Instead, she stayed at the campaign's office in Derry and helped make phone calls.

Romney himself had planned to hold a rally in Milford on Tuesday night, but that also was canceled, as was first lady Michelle Obama's appearance at the University of New Hampshire.

In Concord, cooking supply shop owner Mike Beauregard said Obama's decision to cancel his campaign plans elsewhere Monday to focus on his official duties shouldn't be viewed as a political move.

"The last thing first responders need is for these folks to be running around," said Beauregard, an independent who leans Republican but declined to say whom he's voting for.

Numerous schools across the state were closed, and flights were canceled at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. At least 13 shelters have been opened across the state.

Earlier, Lynch put 100 New Hampshire Guard soldiers on active duty to conduct wellness checks, assist with debris removal and distribute food and water. Utilities secured crews from Canada and a number of states as they prepared for prolonged power outages and tree damage.

Public Service of New Hampshire, the largest utility in the state, requested an additional 550 line crews in addition to its own. Crews were arriving from Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. PSNH also staged 100 tree-trimming crews around the state and requested more.

Unitil Corp., which serves customers in the Seacoast area and around Concord, said it secured more than 250 crews from as far away as Michigan, Tennessee and Canada.

Alec O'Meara, a Unitil spokesman, urged patience, saying some people will get their power restored only to lose it again. "It's going to be a long time before we see the other side of this storm," he said.